In January, perhaps in an effort to appeal to Florida's Space Coast voters, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich made two controversial promises. His first promise was to establish a permanent colony on the moon by the end of his second term in office. Gingrich's other guarantee was for regular manned flights to Mars by 2020.

As you might expect, the mainstream media ridiculed Gingrich's proposals as did many within his own party. Most pundits dismissed the dual promises as either election year pandering or the pie-in-the- sky daydreams of someone out of touch with reality. Others questioned Gingrich's sanity or were alarmed that he would entertain such grandiose ideas in the midst of the current economic downturn.

Regardless of what you think about Gingrich and his ambitious galactic plans, a strong argument can still be made for reinvesting in America's moribund space program. And having heard him expound on the issue several times recently, I think there is no one better equipped to make that argument than U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge.

I heard Posey speak at a recent pro-life luncheon in Vero Beach and, as usual, I was impressed with both his personal demeanor and his grasp of the issues, particularly as they related to the fiscal and social matters of concern to area residents. However, the congressman's comments about NASA were the ones that intrigued me the most.

Posey laid out a three-pronged defense of America's space program, starting with the tangible benefits it has created for all of us by way of cutting-edge innovations. From computer advances to Velcro, the research and development required to put man into space — and eventually on the moon — has resulted in hundreds of inventions that Americans use and enjoy every day.

When Posey reminded the audience that telecommunications, credit card transactions, banking, and countless other aspects of everyday life are dependent on orbiting satellites, he got my attention and that of everyone else in the room. He also mentioned that every dollar spent on the space program creates $18 of economic benefits.

However, it was the way Posey tied in the space program with our national defense that was his most compelling argument.

Citing recent Chinese and Russian attacks on their own satellites, Posey asked his audience to speculate as to why these countries shot down their own orbiters. The answer to his rhetorical question was clear: to prove to themselves as well as to the rest of the world that they had such a capacity.

Imagine for a moment what the ramifications would be if the United States lost a handful of our 36 satellites. Banks would be immobilized, Wall Street would shut down, and the entire economic sector would be paralyzed. And yet, that is exactly what could happen if we continue to cede space to our international competitors.

Having recently relocated to Vero Beach from New Jersey, I have no vested interest in NASA other than the pride I remember experiencing as a 9-year old watching Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. And yes, President Ronald Reagan's poignant words memorializing the Challenger astronauts will always echo in my mind.

But having heard Rep. Posey's reasoned and yet passionate defense of the space program, I am now a true believer and for all the right reasons. It simply makes sense from an economic, technological and national defense standpoint to invest in NASA.

I can't say for sure whether Newt Gingrich was right, but I am more than willing to say that Bill Posey is.